Council Leader at Nigg as multi-million pound contract signed

Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson joined the Business, Innovation and Energy Minister and senior officials from SSE, Siemens and Scottish Renewables at Nigg this morning (Wednesday 15) to witness the signing of the multi million pound contract between Global Energy Group and Siemens for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm.

The Highland Council has been a partner with SSE in their open4business initiative since it was established to raise awareness of the supply chain and procurement opportunities that exist with SSE. It is also one of three standing members of Nigg Skills Academy which plays a key role in realising the training and employment potential of workers to the engineering and energy industries so the Highlands can be well placed to benefit from the opportunities that any major development presents

She said: “The Highland Council’s programme places the highest priority on sustainable economic growth and economic recovery which is why over the years we actively campaigned for the redevelopment of Nigg Energy Park and invested directly in it and other strategic industrial sites across the Highlands.

“In addition to the announcement for Nigg today, the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project has created more opportunities within our communities including the £10 million operations and maintenance facility at Wick harbour and with Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd plans to develop an offshore wind site in the Moray Firth, I am sure the associated energy and business services will bring benefits to other Highland ports including those at Inverness, Invergordon, Helmsdale and Scrabster.

“The news today couldn’t have come at a better time as we, like other areas across the country, are seeing a downturn as a result of the lower price of oil, but this is extremely good news for not just the local area but the wider Highlands and for the highly skilled workforce we have now and the new workers that will be trained to support and sustain the emerging renewables industry in the future.”